Does Maine Really Have an Official Dog Breed?

There is no doubt that Mainers love their dogs.

Yes, we like our cats, but it's not the same.

Our pups go everywhere with us.  We take them with us when we run errands, we take them to the park, we take them on vacation, and some people even take them to work.

You never see someone bringing a cat to work, right?

We love our dogs so much that there has been talk of having an official state dog.

Does Maine really have an official state dog breed?

Unfortunately, no.

According to an article in Good Housekeeping, back in 2015, there had been talk of making the Labrador Retriever the official dog of Maine, but the idea was crushed before it even came up for a vote.

So as of April 2024, Maine does not have an official dog breed.

Why the Labrador Retriever?

Why was the Labrador Retriever chosen in the first place?

At the time, Maine Representative Chris Babbige said it should be the Labrador Retriever because they are:

Strong, reliable, devoted affectionate — as good as any breed, certainly,

Not everyone shared his opinion.

The American Kennel Club describes the breed as being friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited.  They say that the average Labrador Retriever is between 21” and 25” tall.  The sites says that they typically weigh between 55 and 80 pounds.

The AKC reminds people that, as they are an active breed, Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercise.  They like running, playing fetch, and swimming.

Do you have a dog?  What breed?  Why did you choose the breed you have?  Let us know by sending a message inside our app.